Portrait of a Gentleman

Unidentified, Portrait of a Gentleman, ca. 1840, watercolor on ivory, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mrs. Henry L. Milmore, 1950.4.37
Copied Unidentified, Portrait of a Gentleman, ca. 1840, watercolor on ivory, sight 1 341 12 in. (4.43.8 cm) oval, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mrs. Henry L. Milmore, 1950.4.37
Free to use

Artwork Details

Title
Portrait of a Gentleman
Artist
Unidentified
Date
ca. 1840
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
sight 1 341 12 in. (4.43.8 cm) oval
Credit Line
Gift of Mrs. Henry L. Milmore
Mediums
Mediums Description
watercolor on ivory
Classifications
Keywords
  • Portrait male — unidentified — bust
Object Number
1950.4.37

Artwork Description

This gentleman’s clothing reflects mid-nineteenth-century tastes, when men wore darker colors, particularly black and blue, to convey a sense of sobriety and professionalism in a new middle-class society. His thick curly hair, sideburns, and tender expression, however, suggest a romantic side to his personality.